Max was real. He was wrinkly, stubborn, funny, and full of love. Max was my English Bulldog, and he taught me more about pausing, feeling, and loving well than any book or course ever could.
Max passed away just before his 10th birthday, and his absence was huge. I missed him more than I can say – the tail wags, the gentle head nudges, even the bulldog snores.
In the months that followed, I found myself surrounded by memories and reminders. Pigeons. So many pigeons. Naughty, messy, impossible to control. They showed up in flocks, especially when I didn’t want them to. I fed them, cleaned up after them, and tried to keep them out of the house. They became the inspiration for Mr P – Max’s best friend and the mischief-maker in our story.
And then, the geckos. Always just out of sight. Then suddenly there, looking at you, as if they had been watching all along. That’s how GoGo the Gecko Whisperer was born – a quiet, calm, wise presence who helps us remember to breathe and take a step back.
And finally, there’s Miss Meno. She is me. She’s the teacher who forgets to pause, who gets overwhelmed, who reacts before thinking. She’s the adult who is still learning how to manage her own emotions, especially when life feels chaotic. For me, Miss Meno is a breakthrough. She reminds me that being a caregiver doesn’t mean having it all together – it means being willing to learn, grow, and try again.
When Max passed, my boys were heartbroken. We weren’t ready for a new pet. Two years later, they are asking for a cat. That’s how I know we’ve come a long way. Through this journey, we’ve all learned more about our own emotions – how they rise, how they feel, and how they soften over time.
Emotions are the one thing we can never hide from or run away from. We can’t always tame them, but we can accept them, sit with them, and gently train ourselves to move through them.
Max, Mr P, Miss Meno, and GoGo are more than characters. They are part of our real story – and now, they are ready to help others write theirs.
Tail wags,
Adrie